Chapter 240: Chapter 157: The One Who Kills You Is Cao Wunian of the White Bone Sect

The Lingyuan Sect Leader took two steps, then turned back and asked, "What about Qingyang... should we still send people to rescue them?"

Thunder Sound True Man shook his head. "The stakes are too high. We must not act rashly."

"Just do what you’re supposed to do."

The results of divination weren’t always accurate. It was just a form of deduction, and variables were always a possibility.

Interfering with the course of events could very well trigger unpredictable changes.

Whether for better or worse, any change would cause the situation to spiral out of control, rendering the divination’s results unreliable.

If that happened, it would be even harder to use the hexagrams to determine the cause of Luoyan Mountain’s fall in advance and prevent the Divine Fire Sect’s invasion.

So, Thunder Sound True Man’s intention was to turn a blind eye to the disaster at Qingyang, feigning ignorance to avoid any uncontrollable outcomes.

The Lingyuan Sect Leader opened his mouth as if to say something.

But in the end, he said nothing, simply lowering his head and backing out of the hall.

Inside the sect hall, all the Golden Core True Men were lost in deep contemplation.

Outside, when faced with questions from Yao Dehai and the others, the Lingyuan Sect Leader put on an air of nonchalance and casually brushed them off. "Just handle it according to standard procedure."

The Lingyuan Sect was, of course, not without experience in such matters.

They quickly issued warnings to all their strongholds.

The major families in the territory were notified in advance that the Demon Cultivator responsible for the attack was extremely powerful. Any cultivator below the ninth level of Foundation Establishment was warned not to act alone for the time being.

At the same time, a bounty was placed on the Demon Cultivator. Anyone who could stop them from retrieving the Flame Crystal Stone would receive double the Merit and points.

This was done to motivate the Loose Cultivators at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment and a few Demon Extermination Guards to actively hunt down the Demon Cultivator.

These were all standard countermeasures.

Meanwhile, Xiao Chen had already returned to Qingyang Mountain.

The first thing he saw upon entering the Spirit Ore mine was a portly figure waiting on a slope. It was Chang Shunping, his face etched with a grave expression.

"Oh, Xiao, you’re finally back!"

"Something terrible has happened! The Flame Crystal Stone from the Black Flame Mountain Range was stolen."

Chang Shunping hurried over. "I asked a friend about it after receiving the warning this morning."

"I heard it was the work of those cultivators from the White Bone Sect again. Those damn bastards, they’re about to go on another killing spree."

He recounted the events of eighty years ago.

Then he asked worriedly, "Xiao, what if he comes to Qingyang? What will we do?"

Xiao Chen reassured him, "Don’t worry. I’m not afraid of him coming to Qingyang. I’m only afraid he *won’t* come here, and will go harm people elsewhere instead."

It was no exaggeration to say that right now in Hezhou, besides a few Golden Core True Men, he feared no one.

Hearing this, Chang Shunping looked like he wanted to say something but held his tongue.

’His thoughts were the complete opposite. He wasn’t afraid of the Demon Cultivator going elsewhere; he was terrified of him coming to Qingyang.’

But it wouldn’t be appropriate to say that out loud.

So he changed the subject and started talking about other recent amusing events.

As they were speaking, a sharp, aged voice suddenly boomed from outside.

"Xiao Chen, you whelp! Come out and meet your doom!"

The man had used Magical Power to amplify his voice, and it echoed clearly throughout the entire Qingyang Spirit Ore mine.

Chang Shunping turned to look, and his face instantly changed. "Oh no! It’s the Demon Cultivator from the White Bone Sect."

Xiao Chen also turned to look. The man was standing at the foot of Qingyang Mountain, about five hundred zhang away.

He wore a black robe and a Conical Hat that obscured his face. In his hand, he held a Bone Staff topped with a complete Skull.

He was currently taking out Flame Crystals one after another and burying them at the foot of the mountain.

As he buried them, he yelled, "Don’t think you’re safe just because you’re hiding inside the Spirit Ore mine’s Defensive Array!"

"I have enough Flame Crystals in my hands to level the entire Qingyang Mountain!"

Xiao Chen chuckled at his words. ’He’s actually being cautious, staying clear of my Array.’

The Qingyang Spirit Ore mine might not have a Defense Array, but if the man dared to step inside, the Yellow Wind Flowing Sand Formation Xiao Chen had laid in advance would trap him instantly.

’Still, he can’t possibly think I’m helpless against him without an Array, can he?’

Chang Shunping, however, heard this and quickly warned, "Xiao, don’t fall for his trick."

"I have a Signal Arrow. We can just hold our ground in the mine and wait for reinforcements."

"The Demon-slaying Guards are on patrol everywhere now. Reinforcements will arrive quickly."

Xiao Chen waved his hand dismissively. "That won’t be necessary. Wait here, Chang. I’ll be right back." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

With that said, he blurred into motion, rushing out of the Spirit Ore mine and appearing at the foot of Qingyang Mountain in an instant.

As he summoned his Golden Light Pearl and Jade Ruyi, he scanned his surroundings. "Tell your accomplices to stop hiding. All of you, get out here and die."

’Last time I took care of two cultivators from the White Bone Sect at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment. This time, there should be at least three, right?’

To his surprise, the Demon Cultivator opposite him sneered. "Hmph. To deal with scum like you, I alone am more than enough."

"Remember, the one who kills you is Cao Wunian of the White Bone Sect."

At the same time, he pulled four porcelain vials from his robes and hurled them in four different directions.

Billowing black smoke immediately rose, obscuring everything around them.

Hearing this, Xiao Chen was a little disappointed. "So it really is just you?"

"That Saint Heir was lying to me. So no one from your White Bone Sect came to avenge him after all."

Cao Wunian formed a hand seal. "You’re at death’s door and don’t even know it. Close!"

At his command, the black smoke from all sides instantly engulfed Xiao Chen.

This was no ordinary smoke; it was a poisonous smog created with a Secret Technique of the White Bone Sect.

It didn’t need to be inhaled. The moment it touched a cultivator’s skin, it would invade their Dantian and incinerate their Seven Meridians and Eight Vessels.

Even a cultivator’s Protective Spiritual Light offered no defense, as the smog itself could corrode Magical Power.